Leaving home and living in a dorm or other housing can be disruptive to a college student’s regular sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation becomes a problem when it is a struggle to wake up in the morning and you are late for class. It also disrupts concentration, making it harder to study.

Here are some tips for students to get enough sleep:

Decrease caffeine and alcohol intake before bedtime.

Work on reducing stress. We all have stress, but it is the single major factor to poor sleep and long-term health problems.

Find structured ways to relax. Yoga is a good example.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

Exercise regularly. The timing of your exercise is also important. If you’re exercising too close to bedtime, you might be confusing your internal clock with this nightly activity.

What is the room like where you sleep? If you need to sleep in the daytime or your roommate keeps the lights on late, it is very important to shut out the light. Wear an eye mask if you can’t darken the room.

Adjust your room’s temperature if your room is too hot or cold. Studies have shown that very dark (pitch black), cool rooms are the most sleep inducing.